Sector switch



`Nov. 17 1925 1,561,969 J. B. cHRABKow SECTOR swITcH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 File'd 061514. 1924 Nov. 17, 192s;

J. B. CHRABKOW SECTOR SWITCH 2 Sheets-5hauet 2 Filed Oct. 14. 1924 l Il Insulafz'on akamu;

Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

JOHN B. GI-IRABKOW, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SECTOR swrrcn.

Application filed October 14, 1924. Serial No. 743,571.

` To all whom t may concern:

Y switches, and more particularly to a. multiple circuit switch adapted for use in connection with traffic controlling systems such as described in my co-pending application, filed October 9, 1924, Serial No. 742,663.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a switch of this character a switching element having :a plurality of brushes for coaction with contacts carried by a suitable base, together with a handle the engagement of which to move the switch in a given direction will disconnect certain of the brushes and connect the other of the brushes, so that the switching element has electrical engagement with only one set of contacts.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with an operating member reciprocable upon a given track a pair of contact series associated with this track and brushes associated with the operating member automatically connected by operation of the operating member in a given direction to electrically engage with one Yor the other of the series of contact.

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in its construction and readily yoperated, and which will be durable and eficient in service.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein z- Figure 1 is a plan view of a, switch constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; l

Figure 4 is a plan view of the free end of the operating bar with the cover removed;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the free end of the operating bar;

Figure 6 is a view of the base of the switch showing diagraminatically the connections to the contacts thereof in one use of the switch.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a sectorshaped base from the sides of which extend upwardly enclosing side walls 11 by means of which a top or cover 12 is supported. The base 10 is of insulating material which has arranged upon its upper surface, adjacent its curved edge, a plurality of series of contacts, generally designated at 13 and 14. The series of contacts 13, in the present instance, includes a plurality of contacts 15 connected in parallel and a plurality of similar contacts 16 likewise connected in parallel and arranged alternately with the contacts 15. This series further includes a pair of main contacts 17 and 18. The series 14, which is arranged inwardly of the series 13, consists of a pair of arcuately curved contacts 19 and 20, the contact 19 being connected in parallel with the contacts 15, and the contact 20 being connected in parallel with the contact 16. The contact series 14 further includes a pair of main contacts 21 and 22. Arranged at each end 0f the arcuate pair formed by the contact series 13 and 14 are stop members 23 and 24.

Pivoted upon the base, as at 25, is a hollow insulating operating bar 26,` the pivot being at the center of arcuate curvature of the contact series 13 and 14, the free end of the bar being positioned to swing over these contacts between the stops 23 and 24. The bar has secured to its under surface by securing elements 27 and 28 brushes 29 and 30 coacting with the contact series 13 and 14 respectively. Pivoted to the operating bar is a conducting lever 31, the upper end of which projects through an arcuate slot 32 formed in the cover 12 and is provided with an insulating handle 33. This insulating handle is so formed at its base that it may rock from side to side with the pivot of the lever 31 as a center, this pivot extending longitudinally of the bar. It will be obvious that if the handle is engaged to move the bar in one direction in the slot, the pressure applied to move the bar in such direction, due tothe frictional resistance set up by the brushes 29 and `30 in their engagement with the contacts, will cause the handle 33 to incline in the direction of movement and accordingly the lower end of the lever 31 to incline against the directionof-inovement. The lovver'end ot the lever is in the form ofa switchblade and is adapted for connection With a source ot' current. In the present instance this is accomplished by connecting the switch blade with a flexible Wire 34 to the pivot 25, which in turn may be connected with the source of current. Secured to the innerside Walls of the hollow operating bar are a pair oli-blade contacts and36 Withiwhich the lower end ot ithe lever alternately engages. These contacts are connected With the contact brushes'29 rand 30, respectively, as shown.

To generally illustrate the operation of the device, I have shown the same in circuit with a set of traiiic controlling signals in Figure r6. ,In L thisr figure I have illustrated generallytwo intersecting lstreets 37 land 38. Three signals,.illustrating as incandescent lamps 39, 4:0and 41, are employed for controlling traffic on the street 37. Three simila1.lanips'39a, 10Q andvtl are employed `for controlling 'trailic on 'the street 38. The lamp signals -394fand-39a are lWarning' :signais and intended to indicate a vproposed change of trafiic. vThe lampsxa() and 1 are danger signals indicating that trail'ic upon their respective streets must stop, andthe lamp signals ll1 r'and 41a Aare clear ysignals indicating that tratlic upon: theiil respect-ive streets. may proceed.

In the use of the device,`t-he contacts 15 and 16 are 'connected tothe Warning signals y39 and'39a. The contact 17I is connected with the contact 41 indicating clear v upon the street 37,:and thecontact 18 With'the contact 40a indicating stop uponfthe street 38. The contact' 21 is connected `With the contact 4l() indicatingstop--upon the street 37, and the contact 22 is connected' Witlr the signal 41 uponthe street 38. The arcuate contacts 19 and 20,/being connected-in parallel with the contacts-15 vand l16,1respectively, are accordingly connected "with the traitic change signals 39 and 139a ofthe streets 37=andf38. l

VIViththe connections -as above described, the operation is asfollows: Assumingthe operating-bar to be in engagement with the lstop 23' and the handle 33 tobe inclining toward Athis stop, the brush 30wis rrendered activel and accordingly the contacts 21 and 2:2 actuated, with thekresult that lthe stop signal vis illuminated upon 'the street 37, vwhile the'go-signal is illuminated upon the street 38. After the handle is-grasped to move' the kbar into'engagement-With the stop 2li, the initial impulse given this `luindle will shiii'tthe handle andthe lever `31bringing the lower end ofthisV lever into engagement with the blade contact '36. This blade contact being electrically `connected Withthe brush 29,'theibriiish 30 is dis-connected Land the brushi29rrendered active. As the move ment ofthe handle continuesthe bar moves Withthe handle `and the vbrush 29 sweeps o-ver the contacts 15 and 16 alternately engaging the same, so that the tratlic change signals of the streets 37 and 38 are alternately operated. Arriving at the stop 24, this brush comes into engagement with the Contacts 17l and 18, with the result that the stop signal of the` street 38 is actuated and the go signal ot' the street 37 actuated. Atter a. predetermined period the movement'of the handle is reversed, with the result that the position of the lower end ot the lever isreversed and the brush 30 actuated. As the bar moves, the brush 30 sweeps over the'contacts 19 andQO continuously operati-ng'thechange signals 39 and39a andtinally coming into engagement with the contacts 21and 22wvhich Ais the position ,originally described. It AWill thus be seenthat by reciprocating the bar over a fixed path, the signal changes are etlected,fvvhich changes are dependentupon the direction of operation ofthe bar.

It Vwill bei obvious that Whiletheswitch. is primarily intended for luse in connection with streetfsignalling systems and, as shown, in such use is capable of a wide range of other uses, I" do not limit myself tothe specitic `arrangement hereinbefore set forth eX- cept as. hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. VVIna switclnainember mountedfto reverselyoperate over "*a'fixed path, a pair ot' contact series mounted adjacent sa-idpath, a vpair of brushes carried by-theanember and.V each operating in continual engagement With one'contact series and a vhandle for the ymember pivoted to the member forming: themovable contact with .afswitch hav-A ingmovable aandstaticnary contacts, the stationary contacts of said switch being electrically connected :Withvsaid brushes.

2. In a sWitch,: a member mounte'd'to reverselyzoperateoverv a 'fixed path, a pair of contactfseries mounted adj accnt said path, a :pair of'brushes carried Vby the member an'd'each cooperating with one'contact series, and means for rendering the brushesfactive comprisingy a handle1tor the member, said liandlebeing mounted for oscillation-.upon the member and Vupon initial movement thereof to Limpart movement to the `member in a given direct-ion and inclining in such direction, said f means for :rendering the brushes active being operated by the inclination of the. handle.

3. In a switch, a bar adapted tobe 4reversely operated upona finedy path, :a pair ot contact series arranged adjacent sai'dpath, a pair otibrushes carriedbythe.bar` and each continuouslyy engaging one ot said contact series, a pair otl blade contactsV carried by the bar, albladc pivoted upona pivot transversely ot the line of movement ot the bar and adapted to alternately engage said contacts, each of said blade contacts being electrically connected With one of said brushes, and a handle for operating the bar secured to said blade.

il. In a switch, an insulatingbase, a bar pivoted to swing over the base in parallel relation thereto, a pair of arcuately curved contact series arranged beneath the end of the bar and over which the bar operates, a pair of brushes carried bythe bar and engaging said contact series, a blade pivoted t0 the bar and electrically connected with the pivot of the bar, a handle secured to one end of said blade, and a pair of blade contacts with which the opposite end elf the handle connects, said blade contacts being electrically connected with said brushes.

5. In a switch, an insulating base, a bar pivoted to swing over the base in parallel relation thereto, a pair 0l arcuately curved contact series arranged fbeneath the end o the bar and over which the bar operates, a pair ot' brushes carried by the bar and engaging said Contact series, a blade pivoted to the bar and electrically connected with the pivot 'of the bar, a handle secured to one end or said blade, and a pair of blade contacts With Which the opposite end of the handle connects, said blade contacts being` electrically connected with said brushes, the pivot ci' said blade extendingl longitudinally of the bar whereby initial movement imparted to the handle to move the bar in either direction causes oscillation 0f the blade disengagging` the same from one of said blade c0n tacts and engaging the same With the other of the blade contacts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afx my signature.

J OI-IN B. GIIRABKOW. 

